Achillea plant named ‘FLORACHRE1’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Achillea plant named ‘FLORACHRE1’, characterized by its dark red-colored inflorescences, medium green-colored foliage, low growth vigor and compact-upright growth habit, is disclosed.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Achillea millefolium.

Variety denomination: ‘FLORACHRE1’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Achillea plant botanically known as Achillea millefolium and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘FLORACHRE1’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program in Quedlinburg, Germany during May 2012. The objective of the breeding program was the development of Achillea cultivars having attractive flower coloration and a compact growth habit suitable for container plantings.

The new Achillea cultivar is the result of open-pollination. The female (seed) parent of the new cultivar is the proprietary Achillea millefollum breeding selection coded 10213-4, not patented, characterized by its medium orange-rose colored inflorescences, medium green-colored foliage, and vigorous, upright growth habit. The male (pollen) parent of the new cultivar is from is unknown. The new cultivar was discovered and selected as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the above stated open-pollination during July 2013 in a controlled environment in Quedlinburg, Germany.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings since July 2013 in Quedlinburg, Germany, Hendrik-Ido-Ambacht, The Netherlands, and Elburn, Ill. has demonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all of the characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedly observed and can be used to distinguish ‘FLORACHRE1’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Achillea plant:

-   -   1. Dark red-colored inflorescences;     -   2. Medium green-colored foliage;     -   3. Low growth vigor; and     -   4. Compact-upright growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female parent primarily in having a different inflorescence color and in having a more compact growth habit.

Of the many commercially available Achillea cultivars, the most similar in comparison to the new cultivar is ‘Flowerburst Red Shades’, not patented. However, in comparison, plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of ‘Flowerburst Red Shades’ in at least the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar are more compact, as measured by         plant height, than plants of ‘Flowerburst Red Shades’; and     -   2. Plants of the new cultivar have a uniform dark-red         inflorescence color unlike plants of ‘Flowerburst Red Shades’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typical flower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed description, which accurately describes the colors of ‘FLORACHRE1’. The plants were grown in 13 cm containers for 12 weeks outdoors in Hendrik-Ido-Ambacht, The Netherlands.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habit of ‘FLORACHRE1’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of an individual inflorescence of ‘FLORACHRE1’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature, light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, 2015 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significance are used. The color values were determined in July 2019 under natural light conditions in West Chicago, Ill.

The following descriptions and measurements describe plants produced from cuttings from stock plants and grown in a glass-covered greenhouse under conditions comparable to those used in commercial practice. The plants were grown as three plants per pot in one-gallon containers for approximately 17 weeks in a greenhouse in Elburn, Ill. Greenhouse temperatures were maintained at approximately 60° F. to 65° F. (15.5° C. to 18.3° C.) during the day and approximately 55° F. to 60° F. (12.7° C. to 15.5° C.) during the night. No supplemental lighting was provided. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plants.

-   Botanical classification: Achillea millefidium ‘FLORACHRE1’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary Achillea millefolium breeding             selection coded 10213-4, not patented.         -   Male parent.—Unknown. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal stem.         -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 10 to 12 days.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 4 weeks.         -   Root description.—Thick fibrous.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching, moderately dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Commercial crop time.—Approximately 8 to 10 weeks from a             rooted cutting to finish in a 10 cm pot.         -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Compact-upright.         -   Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane:             Approximately 26.0 cm. Width: Approximately 21.0 cm.         -   Branching habit.—Freely branching as basal rosettes.             Quantity of main branches per plant: Approximately 6.         -   Branch.—Strength: Strong. Length to base of cyme:             Approximately 20.0 cm. Diameter: Approximately 4.0 mm.             Length of central internode: Approximately 3.0 cm. Texture:             Tomentose. Color of young and mature stems: 146B. -   Foliage description:     -   -   General description.—Quantity of leaves per main branch:             Approximately 10. Fragrance: Faint. Form: Simple.             Arrangement: Alternate.         -   Leaves.—Aspect: Acute angel to stem. Shape: Narrow             oblanceolate. Margin: Very finely dissected giving a             fern-like appearance. Apex: Acute. Base: Sessile, truncate.             Venation pattern: Pinnate. Length of mature leaf:             Approximately 14.0 cm. Width of mature leaf: Approximately             2.0 cm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces: Sparsely             pubescent. Color of upper surface of young and mature             foliage: 137B with midvein of 147B. Color of lower surface             of young and mature foliage: 138A with midvein of 147C. -   Flowering description:     -   -   Flowering habit.—‘FLORACHRE1’ is freely flowering under             outdoor growing conditions with substantially continuous             blooming from late spring through summer.         -   Lastingness of individual inflorescence on the             plant.—Approximately 10 to 14 days. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   General description.—Type: Rotate composite inflorescence             form; inflorescences arranged in terminal or axillary             compound cymes; cymes somewhat flat-topped; freely             flowering; persistent. Aspect: Upward and outward. Quantity             per plant: Approximately 8. Cyme diameter: Approximately             7.0 cm. Cyme depth: Approximately 5.0 cm. Inflorescence             diameter: Approximately 7.0 mm. Inflorescence depth:             Approximately 7.0 mm. Fragrance: Slight.         -   Peduncle.—Strength: Strong. Aspect: Erect. Length:             Approximately 3.5 cm. Diameter: Approximately 3.0 mm.             Texture: Tomentose. Color: 146B.         -   Bud.—Rate of opening: Generally takes 3 to 4 days for bud to             progress from first color to fully open flower.         -   Bud just before opening.—Shape: Ovoid. Diameter:             Approximately 2.0 mm Color: 146B and petals of 2C with 53B.         -   Ray florets.—Quantity per inflorescence: Approximately 4             to 5. Arrangement: In a single whorl. Aspect: Rotate. Shape:             Orbicular on a narrow tube enclosing pistil. Margin: Entire.             Apex: Emarginate. Base: Attenuate. Length: Blade portion             approximately 2.0 mm, tube portion approximately 4.0 mm.             Width: Blade portion approximately 3.0 mm, tube portion             approximately 0.5 mm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces:             Glabrous. Color of upper surface when first open: 2C with             slight overlay of 53B. Color of lower surface when first             open: 1D with 53C on outer edge. Color of upper surface when             fully open: 53A. Color of tube portion: 145A.         -   Disc florets.—Quantity per inflorescence: Approximately 22.             Arrangement: Massed in center of inflorescence. Shape:             Tubular. Margin: Entire. Apex: Five-acute tips. Base: Fused.             Length: Approximately 4.0 mm. Diameter at apex:             Approximately 1.0 mm. Diameter at base: Approximately             1.0 mm. Texture: Glabrous. Color when first and fully open:             Tips of 12B, center of 145B, and base of 145D.         -   Disc.—Diameter: Approximately 3.0 mm. Depth: Approximately             1.5 mm.         -   Receptacle.—Shape: Dome. Height: Approximately 1.0 mm.             Diameter at base: Approximately 2.0 mm. Color: 143A.         -   Phyllaries.—Quantity per inflorescence Approximately 13.             Arrangement: In multiple whorls. Shape: Lanceolate to             narrowly elliptic. Margin: Entire with papery edges. Apex:             Acute. Base: Truncate. Length: Approximately 2.0 mm to             3.5 mm. Width: Approximately 1.0 mm. Texture of upper             surface: Glabrous. Texture of lower surface: Sparsely             pubescent. Color of upper surface: 146B Color of lower             surface: 146C.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Present on disc florets             only. Stamen quantity: 5. Stamen length: Approximately             2.0 mm. Anther shape: Oblong. Anther length: Approximately             1.0 mm. Anther color: 13C. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen             color: 13A. Gynoecium: Present on ray and disc florets.             Pistil quantity: 1 per floret. Pistil length: Approximately             4.0 mm. Stigma shape: Bifid. Stigma length: Less than             1.0 mm. Stigma color: 1D. Style length: Approximately             3.0 mm. Style color: 145D. Ovary length: Approximately             1.0 mm. Ovary color: 145D. -   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has     been observed. -   Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests     common to Achillea has not been observed. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Achillea plant named ‘FLORACHRE1’, substantially as herein illustrated and described. 